Biology Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary Words Related to Photosynthesis

• Autotroph: Organisms that produce their own food by capturing energy from sunlight or chemicals using inorganic compounds; referred to as producers.
• Heterotroph: Organisms that derive energy by consuming food; known as consumers.
• Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP): Primary chemical used by living organisms to store and release energy, essential for cellular functions.

Processes and Structures in Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis: A crucial biological process where plants and some organisms convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbohydrates (like sugars and starches) using light energy.
• Pigment: Molecules that absorb light, playing a significant role in photosynthesis.
• Chlorophyll: The main pigment in plants and photosynthetic organisms, vital for capturing light energy.

Components of Chloroplasts

• Thylakoid: Membrane structures within chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll and are integral to the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.
• Photosystem: Functional units in chloroplasts that collect light energy for photosynthesis.
• Stroma: The fluid-filled space surrounding thylakoids in chloroplasts, where the Calvin Cycle occurs.

Energy Carriers and Enzymatic Functions

• NADP+: A carrier molecule that transfers high-energy electrons from chlorophyll to other molecules, playing a key role in the electron transport chain.
• ATP Synthase: A large protein that synthesizes ATP by using energy from H+ ions, illustrating the connection between ionic movement and energy production.

The Calvin Cycle

• Calvin Cycle: A series of biochemical reactions in photosynthesis that utilize ATP and NADPH to synthesize high-energy compounds like sugars, showcasing the transformation of solar energy into chemical energy.